US retailer GAP had recalled some of its garments which it intended to sell in US and Europe for this Christmas because children were involved in manufacturing these fabric. Yes, the demon of child labor rises again for foreign retailers. The irony is that GAP wanted to use the same fabric for a kids line of clothing.
The hearsay began when British newspaper The Observer quoted that children as young as 10-13 were making clothes for Gap in filthy conditions, in a derelict building in Shahpur Jat, Delhi.
They had been sold to the sweatshop in Delhi by their families. The children, some of who worked for as long as 16 hours a day sewing clothes by hand, said they hailed from Bihar and West Bengal. They added that they were not being paid because their employer said they were still trainees; nor would they be allowed to leave till they could repay the amount for which they were bought from their families.
But this is not the first time that retailers have messed up with labor issues. This has been repeated numerous times. Recently another daily reported Calvin Klein contractors employing child labor in Bangladesh. Nike too had labor problems in China. It is evident that unless and until the media or social activist raise these issues these retail giants don’t seem to be bothered how their fabric is woven as long its cheap!
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3 comments:
I pondered a lot, its a vicious circle. we just cannot pin point corporations. Just because they are big doesnt mean they are bad. If Arvind mills wants its plant in bangalore to be shifted to bangladesh, obviously it doesnt have bright future for bangadesh in mind. The whole concept of outshoring is based on cost cutting or to be refined being cost effective. Arvind mill tommorrow cannot be blamed for child labor in bangladesh. And what about the children who were so called rescued. Its all an utter chaos. Gap had done this before also and this time also it acted before the news flashed. In India you know you can have a black and white agreement with the suppliers but controlling suppliers and contract manufacturers is a tough job as they again outsource it to small contracters. See its like if gap allows it, blame them for child labour and if they restrain, then we will have a section of trade union crying non tarrif barries. NGO anyway was more concerned about amount paid to children then the actual problem of child labour.
Its high time we start taking responsibility for what we do and start respecting our laws rather than making it tough for corporations to move.
oh, its almost as big as the post itself, waiting for your opinon ice.
i got ur point. i agree retailers do have a dilemma. but why can't retailers come together, form a consortium to eradicate child labor from their industry. This in turn could b promoted as a CSR initiative and a brand building effort.
ya sure if they can come for cartel and do lobbying why not for consortium to eradicate child labor.
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